Telescopic sight protector



33 244. UR 2,968,099 5R Jan. 17, 1961 R. E. PETERS, JR 2,968,099

TELESCOPIC SIGHT PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. Rob er/ 5. Pe/ens HTfORNEY Jan. 17, 1961 R. E, PETERS, JR 2,968,099

TELESCOPIC SIGHT PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiy 6 29 7 IN V EN TOR. Robe/f E. Pe/ers BYEAJJlQQG/AIQLQ flTTORNEY United States Patent TELESCOPIC SIGHT PROTECTOR Robert E. Peters, In, 622 Gratiot Ave Saginaw, Mich.

Filed Oct. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 693,490

3 Claims. (CI. 33-50) This invention relates to a protector for telescopic sights, such as those usually mounted on rifles, and is more particularly concerned with such a protector comprising a specially designed tube made out of a flexible but resilient material.

Because modern rifles, such as those employed in hunting game and those used in target shooting, have been developed to have an accuracy exceeding that visible to the human eye, many shooters have elected to mount a telescope directly onto their rifle, whereby the target is brought relatively closer and into sharper focus. Most of these rifle-mounted telescopes are also fitted with a sighting means therein and are therefore called telescopic sights. Since these telescopic sights are, in essence, fine optical instruments, protection thereof is in order. While the usual tubular exterior provides some measure of protection, inherently, some transparent end piece is required at both ends of the tube and these transparent end pieces are easily scratched, broken, bent, or otherwise atfected in use so as to detract from the sights accuracy or clarity of vision.

Many methods have been proposed to protect these transparent end pieces, no one of which has been completely satisfactory. Perhaps the most common is an opaque tubular cup which fits over the end of the sight. But, whenever it is desired to aim, the cup must be removed, with the attendant loss of time attached to such action. And, in hunting, such loss of time may result in the loss of a shot which required great effort to provide.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a telescopic sight protector which maintains the sight always ready for action, but which gives substantially complete protection to the sight at all times.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of such a sight protector wherein a specially designed resilient tube fitting over the scope tube and normally in a shooting position, but adaptable to protection of the sights end pieces is provided.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of such a sight protector wherein a flexible and resilient tube is provided containing a water collecting and drain portion therein, to keep rain or other dampness away from the end piece of a telescopic sight.

' Still another object of the present invention is the provision of such a sight protector which comprises a cylinder of flexible and resilient material, said cylinder defining an outlet in the form of a hole or slot a distance from the part of the cylinder adapted to engage a telescopic sight.

Other objects will become apparent hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates the telescopic sight protector of the present invention as mounted on both ends of a telescopic sight which is in turn afiixed to a rifle.

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the protector of the present invention particularly illustrating the water collecting and drain portion of the sight protector.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the protector taken from the end opposite that attached to a telescopic sight.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken along lines 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternate design for the front portion, or telescopic sight engaging portion of the telescopic sight protector of the present invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates still another alternate form for the front portion of the sight protector.

Preferably the telescopic sight protector of the present invention is constructed from rubber, neoprene (DuPont) has been preferred, although other flexible, yet resilient, materials may be employed, such as, for example, polyethylene and other plastics, coated paper, etc. It is desirable that the protector retain a normal imparted shape, however, it should be deformable so as to bend over the end pieces of the telescopic sight.

The protector 11 is adapted to fit over a telescopic sight 12 normally attached to a rifle 13 by a mounting means 14. The protector 11, constitutes a flared tube, in its preferred embodiment having a smaller diameter at its front or sight-engaging portion 15 and a longer diameter at its rear or eye portion 16. The front portion 15 is adapted to slide over the telescopic sight 12 but to frictionally engage the telescopic sight 12 so as to be attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment, cutouts 17 are provided so as to afford more stretch to the front portion 15. The cutouts 17 may be provided with thin sheets of material so as to cover the sight 12 at the cutouts, if desired.

At the eye portion 16, a thick section or eye rest 18, adapted to rest around the shooters eye is provided. Eye rest 18 serves as the rear section of the protector l1 and if properly positioned on the telescopic sight 12 serves to give the preferred eye relief distance from the sight 12. A drain slot 19 located at the bottom of the protector 12, is also provided. This drain slot allows any moisture which collects in the protector 11 to drain off before it contacts the telescopic sight 12. A drip ring 20 is also provided to serve as a moisture retaining and directing means. This drip ring 20 adjoins two cylindrical projections 21 which serve as drain spouts for moisture collected along drip ring 20 or moisture draining along the edges of drain slot 19.

When the protector 11 is attached to a telescopic sight 12, the end pieces of the sight are substantially completely protected. For example, an act which would normally result in scratching of the end pieces, with protector cannot reach the end pieces to cause scratching. In damp weather, moisture does not reach the end pieces because it first condenses and is allowed to drain off. In particularly heavy rains, bending the protector over the eye piece gives complete protection and when it is desired to shoot, the protector will spring to its normal shape.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate optional designs for the front portion 15. Fig. 6 shows a relatively thicker portion at the top which gives added rigidity to the protector 11. Fig. 7 shows the use of an imbedded spring wire 22 which also gives additional rigidity, if desired.

While the invention has been particularly described showing a drain slot 19, it is to be understood that other configurations may be employed to accomplish the same objective. Also, it is to be understood that the protector is adapted to be attached to both front and rear portions of the sight, although the invention has been specifically described for rear attachment.

Various modifications may be made in the article of the present invention, and it is to be understood that I limit myself only as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telescopic sight protector comprising: a flexible resilient tube having two sections, the first of said sections adapted to fixedly engage a telescopic sight and the second of said sections extending away from said telescopic sight, said second section defining a drain means at the bottom of said section, and, an interiorly protruding drip ring integral with and located intermediate the ends of said second section and communicating with said drain means.

2. A telescopic sight protector comprising: a flexible resilient tube having two sections, the first of said sections adapted to fixedly engage a telescopic sight and the second of said sections extending away from said telescopic sight, said second section defining a drain means at the bottom of said section, and, an interiorly protruding drip ring integral with and located intermediate the ends of said second section and communicating with said drain means, the top of said drip ring being positioned closer to the rear of said section than the bottom of said drip ring.

3. A telescopic sight protector comprising: a flexible resilient tube having two sections, the first of said sections adapted to fixedly engage a telescopic sight and the second of said sections extending away from said telescopic sight, said second section defining a drain means at the bottom of said section, an interiorly protruding drip ring integral with and located intermediate the ends of said second section and communicating with said drain means, and communicating with said drip ring and said drain means, downwardly projecting cylindrical projections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

